Lock device for well tools



Oct. 5, 1948. A. A. BA ER 2,450,822

LOCK DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Filed April 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l a if? Il I 7% Z .64 3' L L 29 40' I 52 .6 I .5 37 T i l 47 1 I Z@ 2a ii: '5

. 7 J7 J7 15 l B i A J3 14 ii "34 v 57 -3 as 11 q .25 AA/QON A. BAKE/E2,INVENTOR.

BYWQ' W ATTORNEY.

0(1- 5, 1948. BAKER 2,450,822

LOCK DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Filed April 15, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AAEONA.634x52,

INVENTOR.

BY M/Q- ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 1948 LOCK DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Aaron A. Baker, Coalinga,Calif., assignor to Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporationof California Application April 15, 1944, Serial No. 531,237

5 Claims.

This invention relates to well tools, and more particularly to thelocking portion of such tools designed for subsurface operations in wellbores.

Locking devices are used in connection with many tools employed in wellbores. One of the most common of such devices is a J or L pin and slotarrangement used with packers, liner hangers, tubing anchors, wellwashers, etc. Such J, L and similar types of locks function to maintaincertain well tool parts in a definite relative position, or they can bemanipulated to release such parts and permit their performance of theparticular action or operation in the well bore, such as to set a packeror liner therein, control a valve, etc.

The use of these J or L devices in looking and unlocking well tools thatare to be retrieved from the well bore entails the hazard that theymight inadvertently be placed in an unlocked position while the tool isbeing elevated or withdrawn from the well bore. In the case of a packerof the retrievable type which is set by taking an upward strain on atubular string to which the packer is attached; such inadvertentunlocking would cause the well tool to set inthe casing while it wasbeing removed from the well bore, and might result in parting of thetubing string or in pulling the packer in two.

- It is an object of the present invention to overcome the abovementioned difficulties by providing a well tool whose parts can bepositively and non-releasably locked in retracted position when it isdesired to withdraw the tool from the well bore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a J or L type of lock ina well tool in which the parts of the lock can be so positioned withrespect to eachpther as to permit locking and unlooking at will; butwhich can be positively locked to one another to prevent furtherunlocking 'or relea se'until the tool has been removed to the surface ofthe well bore.

2 in retracted position for movement in a well bore 0r casing;

The invention has other objects that will be- Figure 2 is a longitudinalsection on an enlarged scale of part of the device illustrated in Fig-Figure 3 is a perspective of part of the lock device;

Figure 4 is a section in perspective taken along the line 4-4 in Figure2;

Figure 5 is a cross-section taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the lock device in diiierentpositions.

The invention is exemplified in the drawings as forming part of a wellpacker of the retrievable type. It is to be understood, however, thatthe invention is also applicable to other well tools, as the followingdetailed description of the apparatus shown in the drawings will bringout.

The packer illustrated in the drawings is specifically described andparticularly claimed in the application of Reuben C. Baker forreleasable well packers, Serial No. 419,061, filed November 14, 1941,now Patent No. 2,368,400, granted Jan. 30, 1945. This packer A isadapted to be run in a well bore or casing B on the end of a tubularstring C threadedly or otherwise attached to the u per end of thetubular mandrel ID of the packer. The lower end of this mandrel isthreaded into theupper end of a tubular packer body II, to the lower endof which is secured a packing actuator I2 in the form of a guide.

A tapered expander I3 is mounted on the body and is preferably preventedfrom turning with respect thereto by a key It secured to the ex: terior.of the body II and received within a keyway l5 in the expander, so as topermit relative longitudinal movement between the body and expander,whilepreventing rotation therebetween. When the tubular string C,mandrel l0 and body H are elevated, the packing actuator I2 is'movedtowards'the expander l3 to compress an intervening packing sleeve I6surrounding the body and force it outwardly to efiect an annular sealbetween the body H and easing B. Such actuation of the packing sleeve i6only occurs when the tapered expander i3 is prevented from movingupwardly, which results from anchorin engagement by a plurality of slipsl1, cooperating with the tapered expander, with the wall of the casing.The slips. I l have tapered surfaces [8 cooperable with companiontapered surfaces IS on the expander, the inclination of such surfacesbeing such as to move the slips ll outwardly toward the casing uponelevation of the expander [3. Conversely, lowering of the expander withrespect to the slips permits the latter to release from anchoringengagement with the wall of the casing and move inwardly to retractedposition.

It is, therefore, apparent that elevation of the tubular string C,mandrel NJ and packer body II can effect anchoring of the tool throughengageme'nt of the slips 11 with thecasing under the influence of thetapered expander I3, and they can also effect compression or shorteningof the packing sleeve l6 between the expander l3 and guide l2 to produceits radial outward expansion into sealing engagement with the wall ofthe casing.

The slips I! are held together for joint movefner'it along the taperedexpander l3 to and from engagement with the casing by providing recesses2|) in their side faces, which receive outwardly extending fingers 2|for guiding the slips to and from the casing and for preventing theirlongitudinalmdvement eXc ept in unison by engaging the ends oi therecesses 20, These fingers'fl are integral with a sleeve 22 slidable, ontlie'mandrel l8, which has a stop ring 23 secured thereto by screws 24or the iike for the purpose of limiting the extent of outward movementof the slips.

Thissleeve 22-, and the slips H assembled thereton, are coupled to adra'g'and- 1m; device 25, comprising a lo'wer'collar 2 6 slidable on themandrel III, which receives the lower ends ofa plurality.ofcircumfrentiallf spaced outwardly bowed springs 2'; heldtheragainstinassembled relation 'by a ring 28 fastened; to the collar by a pluralityof screws '29 These springs are dis posed around the mandrel with theirupper ends securedto an upper drag collar 31) by an upper ring 3!suitebly fastened thereto, as by screws 32.

The drag and lock device 25 isfcoupl ed to the slip assembly by means ofa sectional'tiebr coupling ring 33 securedto the lower collar 26 byscrews 34, andh aving'a lowerinturned flange r cei a d fitting nd a xnal fla 36 atthe upper end of the slip sleeve 22. Rotation ofthe tloular string C, mandrel ill and drag de'v'ice2 is permitted withputcorresponding roi l of he. sli esmhlv leev 4? d s i s 1 dire t'dthe's'wivl type of action provided by the It is is b n t hat the dra deise Z? en a s th in We l as e e e s n s t le s i ij li move nt o he lips"1 ounl d m r e r u h th Wel ea in U9 ea hin the dasir'ed setting pgintin the casing, if the tubuiar mandrel IQ is permitted to, move upwardly.with resp is h rag d v ushi 'n' l d ls l te he ell II of. the p ken. andthrough the guide l2 and packing sleeve l5 ele a th speed r I 3. hin thips nl ing h atte a e pr e d wm m u ardl y h serene t orce e s i s ad al out rd i? anchorin e eeem n w th the casin l A, ntinu nce W 1. pwa dmov men auses compression of the packing sleeve l6 into sealing n a em nw t the a ing a d body it lathe mann her igb' i descri d- Conv l we in cthe. ubu ar a re w t r sr t to the ge de ce 1.5 P rmi s etlfa t k if/tBack n sl ev l6 mm'the sinsfw l d r dat s -P9 l QW ne me t Ofthfi ta erexpander 3 hfq sh n ageme of e m sho der withing e a d r an it so that e2 l ar imbl nwa dly =9 e s ide? th ia i g a an ee efla A retractedposition, since they are prevented from moving longitudinally by thedrag device.

It is important to note that upward movement of the tubular mandrel l0and body H can effect anchoring of the packerin packed off conditionwithin the well casing, and that lowering of these members, can effectrelease of the packer. It is, therefore, essential that some means heprovided for preventing relative movement between the slips I1 and thetapered expander [3 in order to allow the tubular mandrel ID to beelevated with out anchoring the tool in the well casing when the entiretool is to be raised within the well casing.

One device for locking slips with respect to an expander, or for thatmatter for preventing relative movement until desired betweencooperative parts of subsurface well tools generally, is a J or L typeof lock. Such lock can include a pin operable within a horizontal slotand also within a longitudinal slot, or in some other member which willallpw its longitudinal movement. When thepin is positioned in thehorizontal slot, the tool parts, such as the slips and expander, arelocked together, but when the pin is so positioned as to allow itslongitudinal movement, the tool parts are unlocked. and the toql may bemanipulated in the desired fashion depending upon the design and purposefor which it is to be used Such a type of locking device 39 isillustrated in the drawings as incorporated in the lower portion Of thedrag device 25. It consists of an outer sleeve 49 spaced from themandrel l0 and secured, as, by welding, to the lower drag collar 26, andto an upper latch collar 4|. Both of these collars are slidable on themandrel and cooperate with the outer sleeve 4!! to form an arcuatechamber 42 with the mandrel itself. This chamber, however, does notextend completely around the mandrel but is interrupted by a verticalor'longitudinal wall or rib 43 extending within the sleeve between thelower drag collar 26 and the upper latch collar 4|. The right portion 44of the wall forms a guiding surface for cooperation with a pin 45secured to the mandrel Hi; This pinserves. to loci; certain parts of awell tool together when positioned within a generally horizontal slot46, which is formed by securing an arcuate generally horizontal rib 4!to the interior ofthe sleeve and spacing it from the upper end of thelower drag collar 26. As seen in the drawings, the right end of this ribterminates short of the right surface 44-, of the longitudinal wen toafiord a space 4;; through which the locking pin 45 can passlongitudinally, and the left portion of the rib terminates short of theleft surface 49 of the longitudir al wall to form aspaceifl suflicientin extent to receivethepin secured to the mandrel. However,the-horizontal slot45 does not communicate with the space 511, beingprevented from doing so by the vertical, stop mi mber 5| extendinbetween the left end of the rib 41 and thelowe r drag QQllar 26. Thelocking pin 45 is positioned in the horizontal slot 46 under the rib 5|whenever the well 1 parts are, to be locked together When the parts areto be released or unlocked the tubing-string G and attached mandrel Illare turned counter: clockwise to move the pin from under the hori;zontal rib and against the right surface 44 of the longitudinal wall 43,which allews the man; drel and tubing string Q. to be shift dldngjtudiall hin he s ev 49 a d ra ice. 2 in; the event that it isdesired to relock th tool Pei-its. El mandls ill is lowered w th. thepin45 riding against the right surface 44 of the wall until it engages theupper end of the lower drag collar '26 (lower part of slot 46),whereupon the tubular string C and mandrel can be turned clockwise toreposition the pin 45 under the horizontal rib 41 and within thehorizontal slot 46. This cycle of operations can be'repeated as often-asdesired to lock and unlock the tool parts.

In order to lock the tool parts positively and non-releasably, the pin45 can be held in its lower locked position within the sleeve by a latcharrangement. As-illustrated in the drawings; this latch can take theform of a leaf spring 52 whose upper end is secured to the upper latchcollar4l in any suitable fashion, as by an encircling ring 53 secured tothe collar 4| by one or more screws 54; The latch is spaced from themandrel I6, extending downwardly within a longitudinal slot 55 in'thesleeve 46 adjacent the left side 49 of the vertical wall 43, with itslower free end' 56 turned inwardly toward the mandrel and spaced fromthe upper surface of the lower drag collar 26a suflicient distance toaccommodate the lock pin 45. The spring 52 is free to flex in an outwarddirection by the engagement of the pin 45 with as seen from the surfaceof the well bore, until the 2 pin 45 engages the left surface 49 of thelongitudinal wal1.43, whereupon the tubing string and mandrel arelowered to cause the pin to engage the in'turned nose 56 on thelatch'52, forcing it "laterally in an outwardly direction from its pathof movement so that the pin may fit into the recess 56 between thevertical stop 5| andthe lower end of the left wall portion 49. As soonas the pin passes below the latch the inherent resiliency of the latterwill cause its lower end 56 to move back into the sleeve over the pin,preventing the pin from moving upwardly because of its engagement withthe inturned nose 56 of the latch spring.

Several positions which the pin 45 can occup within the locking deviceare illustrated in the drawings. Th pin can occupy the position Danywhere within the horizontal slot 46, in which device. to cause thepin to shift the latchout of its path of travel and position itselfbelow the lower end 56 of the latch in the recess 56 formed between theleft wall portion and the vertical stop (as designated by letter H).When in this latter position, the slips |land packing 16 have beenshifted to and-locked in retracted positions, and the tool may beremoved from the well bore without fear of inadvertent expansion of theslips and packing'against the casing caused by elevation of the mandrell0 within the drag device 25 to which the slips are coupled. Theposition of the pin in the lower portion of the locking sleeve below thelatch52, at substantially the horizontal position from such position.

the mandrel III is in its lowermost position within the drag devi-ce 25to-hold the slips I! and packing' l6 locked in retracted position. Thetubing string C and connected mandrel l6 can be turned in acounterclockwise direct-ion to position the pin against the rightsurface 44 of the longitudinal wall 43 (posit-ion E) to allow the tubingstring and mandrel to be elevated within the dra device in order to setthe slips and packing against the casing wall. This position of the pinwithin the sleeve when the well packer is set is designated by theletter F. By maintaining the pin against It is preferred that the uppersurface 5! of the horizontal rib 41' be not too far above the horizontalslot 4 6 in order that the mandrel IU and attached lock pin 45 may belowered sum-- ciently within the drag device 25 to release the slips l1and packing I6 from the'well casingB before turning the pin 45 topermanently locked position under the latch nose 56. Upon simul-'-taneously lowering and turning the mandrel, the pin will engage theupper surface 51 of the hori-- zontal rib and advise the operator thatthe tool parts-are in retracted position, which facilitates furtherturning of the tubing string and mandrel toward the surface 49 of wall43.

'It is, therefore, apparent that a lock device for well tools has beenprovided in which the tool parts may be manipulated in a normal fashionuntil it is desired to remove the well tool from the hole; whereupon thetool parts can be'positively and permanently locked in retractedposition, in order to prevent inadvertent setting of the tool orunlocking of its parts while it is being elevated to the surface of thewell bore. At the-surface, a suitable tool can be inserted under thelatch 52 to lift its nose 56 from the pin 45 and allow the mandrel ID tobe moved'to again position the pin in the horizontal slot 46, or anyother desired position. The tool can again be run in the well bore andmanipulated to perform its required purposes.

I claim:

1. A toolfor use in a well bore and having relatively movable parts,means for controlling movement of said parts with respect. to oneanother, including a first member having a generally horizontal slotwith an opening into said slot and connected to one of said parts, asecond member having a pin and connected to another of said parts, saidmembers being movable relative to one another to position said pin insaid slot to lock said parts together against relative longitudinalmovement, said members also being movablerelative to one another to movesaid pin through said opening out of said slot to unlock said parts andallow their relative longitudinal movement, said members, being furthermovable relative to one another to locate said pin out of said slot in aposition lying in the same horizontal planeas said slot, and meanscomprising a latch engageable with said pin when in said last-mentionedposit-ion to prevent substantial longitudinal movement between saidmembers in order to hold said parts .2. .A tool for use in a well boreand having relatively movable parts, means for controlling movement ofsaid parts with respect to one another, including a first member having.a generally horizontal slot with an opening into said slot and connectedto one of said parts, said first member having means thereon forming 'arecess separate from said slot and disposed in substantially the samehorizontal plane as said slot, a second memher having a pin andconnected to another of said parts, said members being movable relativeto one another to position said pin in said slot to locksaid partstogether against relative longitudinal movement, said members also beingmovable relative to one another to. move .said pin through said openingout of said slot to unlock said parts and allow their relativelongitudinal movement, said members being further movable relative toone another to position said pin in said recess, and means comprising alatch on.said.-first member vengageable with said pin when said :pin isdisposed in said recess to hold .said pin'confined in said recess, tohold said parts .locked together, said recess.havingan-entrancethereinto afiording the-only path through which .said pin can movebetween said horizontal slot andrecess.

3. A tool for use in a wellbore and havingrelatively movable parts,instrumentalities for con-- trolling movement of. said-parts withrespect to one another, includinga first member connected to one of saidparts, said first member having means thereon providing a generallyhorizontal slot having an upper opening thereinto, said means-alsoproviding a recessseparateircm said slot, said recess havingan-upperentrance theminto and said recess being disposed insubstantially:thesazne horizontal plane as said slot, a second vmember .having .a pinand connected to another ofsaid parts, said membersbeing movablerelative t-o'one anotherto position said .pin in said slot tolock saidparts together against relative longitudinalmovement, said membersalsobeing movablerelative to one another to move said'pin upwardly'through said opening out of .said ,slot

to unlock saidpartsand allow. theinrelative longitudinal movement, saidmembers .being .further movable relatively to one another .to.move.saidpin downwardly through said entrance,into said recess, and a latch onsaidfirst member at the entrance to said recess engageable with said-pinwhen disposedwithinsaid recess vto prevent upward removal ofsaid pin.from said recess,. inorder to .hold said. parts. locked together, said.entrance .affordin the only paththrough which-saidpin can move betweensaid horizontalv slot..and.re.cess.

4. A tool foruse in a well bore. and having. rela- .tively movableparts, instrumentalities for controlling movement of said parts.withrespect to one another, including. a first member. connected to oneof said-parts, said first member havingan arcuate. generally horizontalrib providing,a .g.en- .erally horizontal slotand a vertical Wall spaced'from one end of saidrib toformeanupper. opening into said slot,saidfirst memberalsdhaving a .vertical rib. at the other ..end .of .saidlhorizontal r ib closing said slot andforming arecess. in conjunctionwith said vertica a wh ch separ te and spaced from sai s ot, a secondmem er be me a pin and connected to anot e of sa d Pa ts, said member ben movab e relat e y to one another to posit n said p n in said s t to 01; said parts together against relative longitudinal movement, said memers a so e n mova e la: tive to one another to move said pin upwardlythrou h sa d pe ing out of said slot t unlock said parts and allow theirrelative longitudinal movement, said members b ing u the moi/eelsrelatively to gone-another to move said .pin down,- wardl-y into saidrecess, and a .one-way latch on saidfirst m m e adiacentsaid rec seneeeeahle and shit-table by said pin from its pat o mo ement.topenmitentryof said pin into said recess, said .latch returning to itsoriginal position upon entry of said pin into said recess and engagingsaid pin to prevent its upward removal from said recessin-order to-holdsaid partslocked together.

.5. -A well tool h v ng e pand means a d operable slip means e a eablewith a well casing ior anchoring said tool therein a ai st upwardmovement; thecombination therewith of instrue mentalities for lockingsaid slip means with respect to said expander means .to hold said slipmeans in retracted position, comprising a first member .connectable to.a running-in string for movingsaid tool withinsaid well casing, asecond member movablewith respect to said first member, one .01 saidmembers surrounding the other, one of said members being providedwith apin and operativelyconnected to-oneof said means, and theother of saidmembers being provided with a generally horizontal slot having anupperopening and .operatively connected to the other of said means, saidslotted member also having arecess separatejrom saidslot and-disposed insubstantiallythe same horizontal planeas said slot, said recess :havingan upper entrance thereinto, said pin heingremovable fromsaidslot andshiftable upwardly with. respect thereto through said openinguponmovement ofsaid first member by said runningdnstrine' to allow saidexpander means toengae said slip means with the ca g, an latch means onsaid slottedmember engageable andshiitable y.saidpin t perm t entlv o sad p n 'thr ushsaid entra ceinto said r ces sl latch means engaging said.pinto preventits upward movement {from said recess, to hold saidslip,meansJin retracted position with respect to said expander-m a s, saiiden ance a o d n the only path through which said pin can move betweensaidhorizontal slot and recess.

A O BAKER- -REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are-of record inthe @file orthisnatent:

UNITED STATES PA-IENTS Number Name Date [1,520,803 Brown Dec. 30, 1924.,l,8'l%,67.3 Waters .Aug. 30, 1932 2,248,211 Young July.8, 194 12,400,970 Baker M y 28, 1946

